Prevalence and management of syphilis at primary healthcare level in the Free State
A study at two South African clinics revealed a maternal syphilis prevalence of 2.3%. Worryingly, three-quarters of positive cases received incomplete treatment, and nearly half of the negative women weren't retested. This highlights an urgent need for enhanced training for healthcare staff on antenatal screening and treatment protocols to prevent complications in newborns.
Maternal syphilis (MS) is of special concern because of the risks of vertical transmission resulting in high rates of stillbirths and neonatal infections, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as South Africa (SA). This was a retrospective evaluation of the antenatal records from 2020 to 2023 at two clinics in the Free State, SA, aimed to assess the clinical management of MS at two primary healthcare clinics.
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